Election Results and Thank You

Final score, Vera Cole 13,346 (42%), Craig Staats 18,673 (58%).

Thanks to 2008-candidate Tom Peterson, for sharing this
perspective, “You earned more votes than any democrat in the 145th ever (819
more votes that I had). More important you had the largest percentage of the
vote ever as well, 41.68%.” (In the 145th, about 35% of registered voters are
Democrats.) Yay team, congratulations to all of us!

To all of you, near and far, who contributed your time, money,
creativity, attention, affection and good humor...heartfelt thanks! These are
precious gifts and are what made this campaign so special. We did what we set
out to do, as Gandhi says, “to be the change we want.” We worked inclusively
and in harmony, reaching out to others and approaching our differences with
kind and respectful candor. With all the pressure and uncertainty, as far as I
know, never was a single harsh word spoken or written between us. I felt it was
a campaign of character, substance and grace and hope that the campaign itself
may have made the world a little better place. I know it made me a better
person.

I really wish we had won! But we didn’t. So, life has other
purpose now. As each of us figures our way forward from this election day, I’ll
remind you as I remind myself, ah, to be joyful in the time that we have been
given.